State chapters keep members engaged with virtual connections
April 27, 2020 –Ducks Unlimited (DU) chapters across the country are finding new and innovative ways to keep their volunteers and members engaged at a time when many of DU’s popular fundraising events have been postponed.
In response to Covid-19 social gathering restrictions, Ducks Unlimited is allowing supporters to bid on exclusive merchandise, collectable firearms and excursions online from the comfort of their homes.
“Forty-three state chapter-run auction sites across the country are offering different items, and you can bid on any of them,” said David Schuessler, DU national director of event fundraising. “The uniqueness of these auctions is drawing excitement from our regular event attendees as well as the public at large.””
Montana State Chairman Jake Hansen says his state’s auction sites provide a means for DU volunteers and outdoors enthusiasts to keep the organization’s conservation mission moving forward.
“When everyone is stuck at home and they can’t attend anything from school events to Ducks Unlimited dinners, it’s nice to give them something where they can still join their fellow DU members and, in a way, mingle with a group,” Hansen said. “The online auctions also allow us to raise money. Although it won’t be as much as we could raise in our peak event season, it keeps people engaged, and that may be even more beneficial than the dollars we raise for right now.”
He says Montana DU chapters have moved some spring events to later in the year but had to cancel a few in agriculture-heavy parts of the state.
“In those areas, winter and early spring are the only time we can get people to participate. After that they are busy with calving, planting crops, harvest and other work until the snow flies,” Hansen said.
Kansas State Chairman Mike Bulk says the turn-out for his state’s online auctions and raffles have been great.
“Everything we have done so far has been very successful,” Bulk said. “Individual chapters are looking at other unique ways to raise money. These challenging times might be useful to our organization, because it forces us to think way outside the box.”
To access an auction, visit www.ducks.org, click the “my state” link, choose your state and click on the auction banner.
All prices in the online auctions include the cost of shipping. Purchased items will be shipped from DU’s National Headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., once local shelter-in-place orders are lifted. All local, state and federal laws apply to firearm purchases.
For more information, visit www.ducks.org and be sure to follow DU’s newest Twitter feed – @DUNews1937 – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world‘s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14.5 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.
